Billet-conveyer



(No Model.)

3 Sh eets--Sheet 1'. H. S.-SMITH.

BILLET GONVEYER.

No. 415,001. Patented Nov. 12, 1889/ I Q I o o o Q LU L .WMQQM H. S.SMITH. BILLET UONVEYER.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No ModeL) Patented'Nov. 12, 1889.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

HORACE S SMITH, OF J OLIET, ILLINOIS.

BlLLET-CONVEYER.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent NO. 415,001, dated November12, 1889.

Application filed March 21, 1889.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HORACE S. SMITH, of Joilet, W'ill county, Illinois,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Billet-Conveyers, of whichthe following is a full, true,

and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an improvement in apparatus for conveying;bodies, especially billets or heated metallic blocks, to distant points,and there automatically delivering them.

My invention is especially designed to convey heated billets as they arecut off by abillet-shears and to deliver them at a distant point forsubsequent operations.

My conveyer consists, generally, of an endless chain carrying metallicrollers and supported as indicated in the drawings.

My invention will be readily understood from the accompanying drawings,in which- Figure 1 represents a vertical elevation of the receiving endof the conveyer; Fig. 2, a horizontal view of the conveyer, showing theshunting mechanism; Fig. 3 a vertical elevation of the same; Fig. 4, anend view showing the billet upon the rollers; Fig. 5, a plan view of thedriving mechanism, and Fig. 6 a vertical elevation of the same.

In my drawings, -A represents an endless chain carrying flanged rollersB, preferably of malleable iron. This endless chain passes oversprocket-wheels N O at either end of the conveyer. The conveying-rollersare carried upon a channel-iron D. The sprocket-wheels are preferablydouble, as shown in Fig. 5.

The I-beam carrying the rollers is supported upon uprights in anysuitable way and carried to any desired distance. The channeliron D,upon which the rollers return, is supported by hangers beneath theI-beam. The sprocket-wheel O is supported upon a bellcrank lever P,which may be drawn upward by the cord R under constant tension, therebytightening the endless chain. The driving sprocket-wheel may be turnedin any suitable way. As shown, it is driven from the gearwheel F, drivenfrom the pinion G, itself turned by the sprocket-wheel and chain, asshown, from the driving-wheel K. The tightener J, mounted upon thebell-crank lever, may

Serial No. 304,124. (No model.)

be employed to keep this sprocket-chain constantly tight.

When it is desired to deliver the billets at some other point than atthe terminal of the chain, a switching device S is employed. This deviceconsists of a bar placed angularly across the path of motion of thebillet, whereby the power is applied obliquely across the line ofmovement of the rollers, as shown in Fig. 2. This is preferably used inconnection with the guide-bars T T, under which the ends of the rollersrun, thereby preventing the derailing of the rollers. These guide-barsmay be coupled together at the ends by the bolted arms V, therebyinsuring steadiness. This switch is adjustable to any desired point onthe beam, being suitably supported thereon, as shown.

The operation of my conveyer can now be readily understood. The billetbeing dropped upon the receiving end, the conveyer being in operation,thebillet is forwarded alon g upon the rollers until it meets the switchS,

when it is thrown from the conveyer upon the ground or other receptacle.The billets are long enough to rest at least upon two rollers at a time.By the revolution of the rollers the billets are caused to be forwardedat a rate twice as fast as the movement of the rollers and chain, andfor this reason a rapid movement of the'billets can be obtained, thusinsuring the least possible wear upon the moving parts. The hot billetsbeing kept in motion cannot overheat at any point or destroy lubricationor otherwise injure it, and at the same time the entire weight of thebillets, including the weight of the rollers, is carried upon rollingfriction, with a consequent small consumption of power.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. A billet-conveyer consisting of a continuous line of rollers coupledinto an endless chain and driven by a power-wheel, said r011-- ersresting upon a trackway, thereby enabling the forwarding of the billetat a rate twice as great as the movement of the rollers, substantiallyas described.

2. In' a billet -conveyer, the combination of a conveyer consisting of aline of rollers rolling along a trackway and means whereby the billetsare shunted olf from said rollers, substantially as described.

3. In a billet-conveyor, the combination of a conveyer consisting of aline of rollers upon a trackway and a switch-bar placed obliquely acrossthe line of movement of said rollers and above their tops, whereby thebillets are shunted off from said rollers, substantially as described.

4.. In a billetconveyer consisting of a continuous line ofcarrying-rollers coupled into an endless chain, a trackway for saidrollers, consisting of an I-beani, beneath which is suspended anindependent trackway for the return of the rollers, substantially asdescribed.

5. In a billet-conveyer, the coupled rollers 13 I provided with flangesand moving and returning upon a trackway, substantially as described.

6. In a billet-eonveyer, the coupled rollers scribing Witnesses.

HQRACE S. SMIIII. \Vitnessesz' WM. A. POLLOCK, E. N. DICRERSON, Jr.

